Blackhawks breakdown: Jonathan Toews

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CSNChicago.com Blackhawks Insider Tracey Myers and PGL host Chris Boden will evaluate the 2011-12 performance of each player on the Hawks roster. One breakdown will occur every weekday in numerical order.

Jonathan Toews was in the discussion for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP until a concussion forced him to miss the final 23 games of the regular season. In 59 games, Toews averaged 20 minutes and 51 seconds per game. When the injury struck, he had 29 goals and 28 assists for 57 points and a plus-17 rating. Five of the goals and seven assists came on the power play. Toews was leading the NHL in faceoff-winning percentage (59.4) when he went down. After a lenghty hiatus, Toews returned for the playoffs where he scored two goals -- including the OT winner in Game 5 -- and had two assists, finishing plus-4 in the six-game series vs. Phoenix.

Boden's take: The captain appeared headed for a career year entering the month of February -- historically his best month since his NHL career began in 2007. Instead, he found himself in the midst of a nine-game losing streak and in the beginning stages of a concussion that would sideline him the final quarter of the season. He came back in time for the Phoenix series, and his goal just four minutes into the opener had a shake-your-head-and-laugh feel that something special might happen for him and the team. While he was still one of the better Hawks in that series, he managed just a goal and two assists the rest of the way. While not coming out and saying he was 100 percent, he was medically cleared, but seemed to be battling some tentativeness over what a big hit might bring.

Myers' take: The Blackhawks captain was compiling a Hart Trophy-worthy season until a concussion sidelined him for the final month and a half of the regular season. And an arm injury kept him out of the All-Star Game, to which he was voted. But when he was healthy, he was great. Yes, Toews struggled as much as anyone during that nine-game winless streak. But theres no doubt what he means to this team with all that he does on the ice and in that locker room. The best part of Toews season was that he could play at the end of it; back from his concussion to start the playoffs, he made an impact immediately in Game 1 against the Phoenix Coyotes. And he wrapped up the postseason feeling no residual affects from that concussion.

2012-13 Expectations

Chris: Simply put, there is no one the Hawks need to remain healthy the entire season more than their best all-around player. The team did well without him, and maybe the record wouldn't have even been as good if he was there down the stretch and the team took his presence for granted. But, I think everyone would take him -- taking every shift, and doing all the big and little things he does -- end-to-end.

Tracey: Toews couldve played for Team Canada in the World Championships, but he stayed out, not wanting to re-aggravate anything now that hes healthy again. And youd have to believe Toews is going to do everything in his power this summer to make sure he comes into next season as healthy as can be. Toews posted career numbers in assists and points in 2010-11. He has every chance of hitting those numbers again with a full 2012-13 season.

How do you feel about this evaluation? As always, be sure to chime in with your thoughts by commenting below and check out the video breakdown of Toews as well as highlights from his five-point game in Anaheim above.
Previously: Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, SteveMontador, Sean O'Donnell, Brent Seabrook, Nick Leddy, Patrick Sharp, Daniel Carcillo, Andrew Brunette, Marcus Kruger, Brendan MorrisonUp next: Sami Lepisto

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